No peanuts or cramped quarters.
Whether you're old enough to remember when flying was special or young enough to not have enough fingers to count your unpleasant air travel experiences, the Airbus A 380 might make flying enjoyable again.
I was curious to know how airlines would use the extra space and amenities to raise the bar on their Food and Wine offerings.
I make my maiden flight on this topic with Qantas. Marc Newson designed the A 380 interiors.
The dining options are created in collaboration with chef Neil Perry following "paddock to plate" principles.
Qantas First Class Tasting Menu lists more than a dozen options.
Let me highlight a few of them:
Sang choi bao is a traditional Chinese dish of various types of meat stir
fried and served in an iceberg lettuce cup. Our version differs a little as it
is purely vegetable based with shiitake mushrooms, baby corn, water
chestnuts, snow peas and green shallots cooked with Chinese wine,
yellow bean sauce and sesame oil. Served on shredded iceberg lettuce.
SALAD OF WAGYU BRESAOLA WITH SAUTEED MUSHROOMS AND
SOURDOUGH CROSTINI
A crisp salad of baby rocket leaves, golden sourdough croutons and pan
fried mushrooms scented with thyme served on Wagyu bresaola. The
salad is dressed with a red wine vinegar and roasted garlic vinaigrette,
made with quality extra virgin olive oil. Our bresaola is made from David
Blackmore’s Wagyu beef, a pioneer of Wagyu cattle in Australia.
CAPSICUM SAUCE
Thin slices of parmesan polenta are layered in the style of a lasagne with
crumbled goats cheese, creamy béchamel and a flavoursome lentil and
tomato sauce. Each lasagne is packed in it’s own foil and baked until
bubbling and golden. A fresh roasted red capsicum sauces finishes the dish.
PAN FRIED CHERMOULA CRUSTED HIRAMASA KINGFISH
Pan fried Hiramasa Kingfish is served with a Chermoula crust. Chermoula
is a Moroccan paste consisting of garlic, fresh parsley, coriander,
paprika,
lemon juice, turmeric, chilli powder and olive oil.
Side Dishes:
Bok Choy, Choy Sum, Spinach, Yam Puree, Moroccan Eggplant Salad,
Braised Lentils, Sardinian Couscous, Fragrant Rice
Plus Cheese of course…
Customers in First can select from up to twelve choices of main course
on some sectors.
Premium Economy offers a Neil Perry-inspired menu
including a choice of two mains, complemented by premium wines, and
selection of refreshments during the flight.
For the wine, Qantas has a wine collection showcasing more than 250 premium
wines each year from the finest Australian and New Zealand regions. A selection of these can be found on flights with food and wine pairing as paramount in deciding which makes the cut.
Some of the crew members are graduates from the Qantas Sommeliers in the Sky program.
How can you spot them? They wear a lapel pin of shining silver grapes.
The Award Winning wine list is extensive. Here are some Qantas First Class selections:
2006 Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz – Hunter Valley, NSW … 32
2005 & 2006 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier – Canberra District, NSW … 33
2008 & 2009 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling – Clare Valley, SA … 26
2009 Henschke Littlehampton Innes Vineyard Pinot Gris – Adelaide Hills, SA … 27
2004 Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot – Western Australia … 35
2005 John Duval Wines Entity Shiraz – Barossa Valley, SA … 35
2006 Kooyong Ferrous Pinot Noir – Mornington Peninsula, Vic … 36
2004 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon – Margaret River, WA … 37
2008 Mount Horrocks Watervale Riesling – Clare Valley, SA … 29
2006 Mount Mary Vineyard Quintet – Yarra Valley, Vic … 37
2006 Penfolds Reserve Bin A Chardonnay – Adelaide Hills, SA … 29
1998 & 2006 Petaluma Coonawarra – Coonawarra, SA … 39
2003 Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling – Eden Valley, SA … 29
2004 Saltram Winemaker Selection Cabernet Sauvignon – Barossa Valley, SA … 40
2005 SC Pannell Shiraz Grenache – McLaren Vale, SA … 40
2008 Serrat Pinot Noir – Yarra Valley, Vic … 40
2008 Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay – Adelaide Hills, SA … 30
2004 Spinifex Indigene – Barossa Valley, SA … 41
2006 Tarrawarra Estate MDB Pinot Noir – Yarra Valley, Vic… 41
2006 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay – Margaret River, WA … 31
2005 Wantirna Estate Amelia Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot – Yarra Valley, Vic … 42
2007 Yabby Lake Vineyard Pinot Noir – Mornington Peninsula, Vic … 43
2002 Yalumba The Octavius – Barossa Valley, SA … 43
2005 Yering Station Reserve Shiraz Viognier – Yarra Valley, Vic ………………………….. 43
All this makes a world of difference on a long London or Los Angeles to Sydney or Melbourne flight.
Bon voyage!
Maybe I should join you for my first visit down under…